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Optima Yellow-Top battery users: How long have you had it and has it served you well?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by JimboK, Dec 17, 2009.

?

How long have you had your Yellow-Top, and how satisfied are you with it?

  1. Less than 1 year

    4 vote(s)
    26.7%

  2. 1 to 2 years

    6 vote(s)
    40.0%

  3. 2 to 3 years

    2 vote(s)
    13.3%

  4. 3 to 4 years

    1 vote(s)
    6.7%

  5. 4 to 5 years

    1 vote(s)
    6.7%

  6. More than 5 years

    1 vote(s)
    6.7%

  7. Very satisfied

    10 vote(s)
    66.7%

  8. Somewhat satisfied

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  9. Somewhat dissatisfied

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  10. Very dissatisfied

    2 vote(s)
    13.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
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    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    As my 12V battery approaches the end of its life (4+ years, marginal unloaded [12.1] and loaded [11.9] voltages), I am investigating a replacement. The Optima Yellow-Top kit from eLearnAid seems to be among the most popular replacement options. Comments about the battery are scattered across many threads, so I'd like to consolidate longevity and satisfaction reports into one thread, not only for my own ease of reference but for others as well.

    Please vote twice in the poll: make one selection for longevity and one for satisfaction level. Feel free to elaborate. I am particularly interested in hearing from those who are not "very satisfied." Thanks in advance!
     
    #1 JimboK, Dec 17, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
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    4,081
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    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
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    N/A
    I missed the second part of the vote. :p

    I'll vote satisfied since this is not the first Optima I've ran in mine and customer's cars.
     
    #2 F8L, Dec 17, 2009
  3. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

    Joined:
    May 30, 2005
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    Location:
    Wheelersburg, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I had mine for 1 year and just replaced it about a month ago. The original Optima was sitting around 11.5v and when it got colder it was even lower than that. I thought it was because I accidentally drained it once a while back. Well I got another new Optima and its doing the same thing. I think its because my car sits 23 hours a day 7 days a week. I'm going to buy a BatteryMinder Plus and hook in into the Hymotion 110v plug so I have my 12v topping off when I have the car plugged in.

    So now I have an extra Optima that is potentially good just sitting around collecting dust. I need to figure out what to do with it.

    I would recommend getting the Optima if you going to get a new battery.
     
    #3 TheForce, Dec 17, 2009
  4. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
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    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Umm, do you lock the car every time you park it?

    Mine sits 23.5 hours out of 24, and I never had such a problem. If a battery is dying after only one year then something is killing it.
     
    #4 richard schumacher, Dec 18, 2009
  5. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
    2,817
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    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    :bump:

    Anyone else?
     
    #5 JimboK, Dec 21, 2009
  6. mindmachine

    mindmachine Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2009
    394
    79
    7
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    My yellow top is in my 2008 Lexus RX400h. Lexus OEM battery failed in the first year.
     
    #6 mindmachine, Dec 21, 2009
  7. FrankD

    FrankD Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2009
    199
    40
    0
    Location:
    Leesburg Fl.
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I cannot vote yet in the poll, since I just installed my new optima yellow top from elearnaid about an hour ago.....nice Christmas Eve project.
    Installation went well...straightforward and easy. So now we shall see....

    Frank D.
     
    #7 FrankD, Dec 24, 2009
  8. johnmaci

    johnmaci Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2011
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    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    1) Do you have to buy the install kit?
    2) I assume you will not need the vent tube if using an Optima?
     
    #8 johnmaci, Oct 3, 2011
  9. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
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    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    There is a new model hat is a direct fit: DS46B24R. The eleanaid kit makes a battery with standard SAE posts fit: D51R.

    Only use vented batteries in a Prius; both the new battery and the kit come with venting solutions.
     
    #9 JimboPalmer, Oct 3, 2011
  10. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
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    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The car wants a vented battery because the battery is enclosed within the cabin. If the battery needs to blow you want it to escape harmlessly through the vent tubes provided by the car. An un-vented battery would spew corrosive junk into the air that you and your passengers are breathing.
     
    #10 richard schumacher, Oct 8, 2011
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